Chapter 129: I WILL MAKE THEM REGRET
Ashen finally set aside the last of his work for the day and moved closer to Lumina, who was still seated, her fingers brushing lightly over the scroll in her lap.
"Do you want to go straight back to the chambers?" he asked.
She hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. "No... I want to walk."
His brow lifted slightly. "Walk?"
"Yes," she said, her lips curving into a small, playful smile. "Unless you are too tired?" she added, remembering how busy he had been all day.
That earned her a huff of amusement. "I am not the one who fell asleep on the desk, wife."
Her mouth fell open as heat rushed to her cheeks. "Hey! You could have woken me."
"Why would I do that?" he replied, the corner of his mouth twitching as if holding back a smile. "You looked... peaceful."
She had no reply to that, and he offered his hand to help her up. Together they walked through the palace halls at an unhurried pace, the moonlight streaming in through tall windows and spilling across the floors. For a moment, it felt as though the rest of the world had gone still.
"You are quieter than usual," she said softly, tilting her head toward him.
"I am thinking," he answered.
"About what?"
A rare spark of amusement flickered in his eyes as he glanced down at her. "About whether you will fall asleep on the couch again tomorrow and make me carry you."
She swatted at his arm, laughing softly. "I didn’t mean to fall asleep!"
"But you did," he said, clearly enjoying her embarrassment.
"You are teasing me," she accused.
"Yes," he said, allowing himself a full smile this time. "And you make it very easy."
The sight of that smile after a tense day made her chest ache in a way she could not quite explain.
She let the moment linger before asking softly, "Do you ever think about it?" He glanced at her, curious.
"Think about what?"
"Climbing the throne," she said carefully. "Do you ever... wish for it?"
For a moment he said nothing and instead of answering, he turned the question on her. "How is your body feeling today?"
Her brows lifted slightly at the unexpected question, but then her thoughts drifted.
Her body did feel lighter today, refreshed in a way that surprised her. But with that memory came Adam’s threat. Her lips pressed together briefly before she sighed.
"Adam wants me to be on his side," she said finally, her tone quiet but casual, as though it were nothing.
Ashen’s steps slowed, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at her.
"Be on his side?"
She nodded. "He asked me to help him... know every movement you make."
Ashen was silent for a long moment, surprised at how casually she had said it. "What did Adam do," he asked at last, his voice low, "to get the right to hold such leverage over you?"
"Nothing," she said simply, and he did not press her further.
Instead, he reached for her hand and pulled her closer until their shoulders brushed
"I want us to understand each other," he said quietly. "No secrets between us."
Her heart softened at his words. She nodded with a small smile. "Of course. I have chosen you to be the one to fight my battles. That bastard will pay for touching me... not now, but soon."
Ashen’s lips curved into a faint smile at her words. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
At that moment, the door at the end of the hall opened and Stella and Ero appeared, stepping inside.
Lumina let out a small breath and allowed Ashen to guide her toward the chambers.
********
Out in the corridor, Adam’s rage simmered, he had been watching the couples as they walked back to their chambers.
He hadn’t expected to see Lumina so calm, about the whole situation and it infuriated him.
As he turned the corner, he nearly collided with Rhynera, who was walking toward him already.
"Your eyes were on their door," she said, tilting her head slightly, her voice cool. "I wonder what’s going on inside."
Adam gave her an irritating look. "Do you so badly want to become Ashen’s concubine?"
Rhynera smiled faintly, unbothered. "After all, Ashen is far better than you."
Adam’s temper snapped. He grabbed her wrist and yanked her closer, his fingers digging into her skin.
"How dare you compare me to him," he hissed. She only rolled her eyes. "You don’t scare me, Adam. Not anymore."
Rage flickered in his eyes as his other hand moved to her throat, not tight enough to hurt but enough to force her to look at him.
"Why aren’t you wearing your veil anymore?" he asked, now noticing that for a few days she had abandoned the veil.
"Well I don’t feel like it," she said evenly.
His lips curled into a dangerous smile before he kissed her hard, biting her lower lip until she tasted blood.
"You look tempting tonight," he said roughly. Rhynera shoved at his chest, glaring.
"We are outside. You can’t treat me this way."
But that only made him chuckle darkly. "You are the Crown Princess. No one would dare say a word if I took what is mine."
"Yes," she said coldly, "and that is exactly why you should have more control than this."
She turned on her heel and walked toward the Chambers that led to their chambers.
The fact that she walked away from him so easily made his fury flare hotter.
He followed her, his boots striking the ground with force.
*****
From a corner near the corridor, Serena stepped out of the shadows, her nails biting into her palms.
Ashen’s words replayed in her mind. ’You should find someone better.’
Her chest felt tight, almost painful.
She couldn’t keep doing this hovering around a man who didn’t respect her, who openly lusted after another woman currently while holding her as a prize.
"My lady," a soft voice came from behind her.
It was Keira, her loyal maid, who had been sent to gather information.
"What did you find?" Serena asked, her voice sharp.
Keira hesitated, then handed her a small pouch. "It’s a contraceptive... the Crown Prince has been giving you this, saying it would help you conceive early... but it’s meant to prevent pregnancy entirely."
Serena felt her breath catch, her throat closing as she stared at the pouch.
So that was it, Adam never wanted her to bear his child, because he could never accept her as his crown princess or concubine.
Her hands instinctively went to her stomach as tears burned her eyes.
"I was so happy," she whispered. "I was going to tell him I might be carrying his heir... but he never even wanted me to get pregnant."
Keira reached for her, but Serena shook her head, her eyes hardening.
"I will not leave him," she said through gritted teeth. "No. I will make him regret ever deceiving me."
"My lady..."
Serena’s expression turned cold, almost cruel. "I will become his concubine, even if I must force Father to arrange it and when I do, I will make life unbearable for both of them."
Her maid hesitated, worried, flickering in her eyes. "And your father...?"
"He will obey me," Serena said irritation. "Keira, have you forgotten who I am? No one plays with me and walks away unscathed."